Gimbally mounted receptacle

ABSTRACT

A gimbally mounted receptacle comprising: yoke means, bracket means for rotatably supporting the yoke means, a receptacle member swingably supported by the yoke means, and locking means coacting between the yoke means and the bracket means for facilitating the rotation of the yoke means therein about an axis or rotation and for precluding movement thereof transversely of the axis.

Dietrich .{248/31 1 V Umted States Patent I 1 91 1111 3,

Thomas et al. 1 1 Oct. 8,1974

{54] GIMBALLY MOUNTED RECEPTACLE 3,045,962 7/1962 Paulus 211/81 X 1 1Inventors Paul Thomas: Frank Bum, 335331133 311323 11122111:iiiijiiiifiZZ/fil h of Bryan, 011110 3,637,184 1/1972 013 11311....248/311 Assignee2 winzeler p g p y, 3,683,737 8/1972 Qencker 85/8.8Montpelier, 01119 FOREIGN PATENTS OR APPLICATIONS [22] Filed: NOV. 13,1972 623,444 7/1961 Canada 131/241 21 A 1. N 306,099 1 pp 0 PrimaryExaminer-J. Franklm Foss v Attorney, Agent, or Firm-Reising, Ethington &Perry [52] US. Cl. 248/311, 206/195 F, 211/81 [51] Int. Cl. A47c .7/70 I[58] Field of Search 248/311, 309; 211/81, 88; ABSTRACT 206mm- 19119-5Film/241 242 A gimbally mounted receptacle comprising: yoke means,bracket means for rotatably supporting the 4 References Clted yokemeans, a receptacle member swingably sup- UNITED STATES PATENTS portedby the yoke means, and lockingmeans coact 1,450,910 4/1923 'Bialick131/241 ing between the y means and the bracket m 1,468,372 9/1923Bendlinm. 131/241 x r facilitating the rotation of the yoke 'meanstherein 2,147,861 2/1939 Shopen 248/311 X about an axis or rotation andfor. precluding move- Z.693,l94 11/1954 Jones 1 131/242 ment thereoftransversely of the axis, 2,893,675 7/1959 Smith et al.. 243/311 X2.926.879 3/1960.

4 3 Claims, 6 Drawing Figures f l GIMBALLY MOUNTED RECEPTACLE Thisinvention is directed toward a gimbally mounted receptacle whichfacilitates the mounting of a receptacle on a moving or swaying mountingsurface such that the receptacle is maintained in a substantiallyupright position independent .of the motion of the mounting surface. Theinvention is particularly adapted for use in marine vessels, such assailboats and motorboats which are subjected to substantial rocking andswaying while in the water.

Generally speaking, the use of gimbals to maintain an object in ahorizontal position, regardless of the position of the mounting surface,is old, as evidenced by ships compasses which have been mounted in thismanner for years. It is very desirable, however, to provide specialgimbal mountings for other objects on marine vessels, such as beverageholders and ash trays which are prone to tip over and dump theircontents. Attempts to devise an inexpensive and yet dependable gimballymounted receptacle are shown in US. Pat. Nos. 2,893,675 and 3,184,20l.

As shown in these patents, it is important that the gimbally mountedreceptacle be easily mounted in or removed from a mounting bracket whichis secured to a mounting surface. One major drawback associated withthis particular design is that the receptacle is not entirely restrictedto swinging movements and, due to the design of the receptacle, may movein a vertical di-v rection thus causing the receptacle to bounce. Thisproblem is produced by the particular design expedients which enablethereceptacle to be mounted in and removed from the mounting bracket. Inother words, the rotatable shaft is not completely enclosed by themounting bracket and, therefore, is not exclusively restricted torotational movement. Due to this design the rotatable shaft holding thereceptacle oftentimes bounces entirely out of the mounting bracket. Thepurpose of the device is therefore defeated because the contents of thereceptacle are thus spilled. Furthermore, the design of the device isadapted to receive receptacles, such as drinking glasses, of differentheights by providing a plate or shelf for supporting a small glass abovethe bottom of the receptacle. If the shelf was not provided, it would beextremely difficult to remove the glass. However, inserting and removingthe shelf is inconvenient and, furthermore, the shelf has a tendency toadhere to the bottom of the glass if there is any condensation formed onthe glass. Additionally, it would be impossible to use the device forholding cups or mugs which include handles because the sides of thereceptacle would interfere with the handle and prevent the cup or mugfrom being placed in the receptacle. It is also noted that therelatively large number of parts required makes the manufacture of thedevice difficult and unattractive.

It is, therefore, an object and feature of the instant invention toprovide a gimbally mounted receptacle including yoke means, bracketmeans for rotatably supporting the yoke means, and a receptacle memberswingably supported by said yoke means; and locking means coactingbetween the yoke means and the bracket means for facilitating therotation of the yoke means therein about an axis of rotation and forprecluding movement thereof transversely of the axis.

In accordance with the foregoing object and feature, it is anotherobject and-feature of the instant invention to provide locking meanswhich includes keyway means disposed on the bracket means and key meansdisposed on the yoke means wherein the yoke is adapted to be removablyheld for rotation within the bracket means and is predisposed to rotatewithin a predetermined range of angular positions with respect theretowhereby the key means is misaligned with the keyway means when the yokeis within the predetermined range of positions.

It is another object and feature of the instant invention to provide ayoke member having inwardly extending fingers wherein the fingersinclude an annular groove adjacent the terminal end thereof forreceiving a snap ring for swingably holding a receptacle thereon.

It is another object and feature of the instant invention to provide agimbally mounted receptacle comprising a cup member adapted to receive acylindrical object wherein the cup member includes longitudinal slotsextending from the top end thereof, a raised platform disposed at thebottom of the cup member for facilitating grasping the cylindricalobject, and a plurality of apertures disposed adjacent to the lowerperimeter.

of the platform for draining fluid from the top member.

comes better understood by reference to the following detaileddescription when considered in connection with the accompanying drawingswherein:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a gimbally mounted receptacleconstructed in accordance with the instant invention;

FIG.. 2 is a cross-sectional view of the gimbally,

mounted receptacle shown in FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a perspective view of a second embodiment of a gimballymounted receptacle;

FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional view taken generally along Line 4-4 of FIG.3;

FIG. 5 is a cross-sectional view taken substantially along Line 55 ofFIG. 4; and

-FIG. 6 is a perspective view of an alternate embodiment of a portion ofthe instant invention.

Referring to the drawings, a gimbally mounted receptacle is showngenerally at 10.

The gimbally mounted receptacle 10 includes yoke means comprising a yokemember generally indicated at 12 which includes a shaft 14 and a pair ofbifurcated arms 16 extending from the shaft 14. The shaft 14 of the yokemember 12 includes a protrusion 18 extend- 1 ing radially from the sidethereof. The protrusion 18 serves as a key or male member as willhereinafter be described and may be formed by any convenient method suchas stamping a portion of the shaft 14 outwardly.

The bifurcated arms 16 of the yoke member 12 extending from the shaft 14are curved arc uately inwardly and include an inwardly extending finger17 at their distal end. Each of the inwardly extending fingers 17include a groove adjacent the terminal end thereof for receiving asuitable snap ring 19. The groove may comprise slots on each side of thefinger 17 or an annular groove extending around the finger 17.

The gimbally mounted receptacle further includes bracket meanscomprising a bracket member generally indicated at 20 for rotatablysupporting the yoke member 12. The bracket member 20 includes a body 22having an internal cavity 24 disposed therein. An aperture 26 isdisposed in the body 22 for communication with the cavity 24.

The bracket means 20 includes mounting means comprising at least oneflange member 28 extending outwardly from the body 22 wherein the flangemember 28 includes fastener receiving openings 30 only one of which isshown in FIGS. 1 and 3. It is contemplated that the mounting means be ofany desired configuration and, alternatively, may be provided with twoor more tongue-like flange members extending therefrom as shown in FIG.6. The only criterion is that mounting means be provided on the bracketmeans 20; however, the specific configuration of which may be chosenbased on aesthetic considerations. Furthermore, the body 22 of thebracket means 20 is shown as having two parallel elongated sides 32connected at their ends by arcuate portions 34. It is also contemplatedthat the configuration shown in FIG. 6 may be used wherein the bodyincludes a substantially cylindrical body portion and the mounting meansinclude three tongue-like flange members having fastener receivingopenings therein.

As hereinbefore stated the object of the invention is to provide agimbally mounted receptacle for maintaining a receptacle in a horizontalposition. One such receptacle is generally indicated at 36 and comprisesan ashtray for receiving ashes, cigarette butts, and the like. Theashtray 36 includes a cup member 38 which is substantially hollow andopen at the top end thereof. Furthermore. the cup member includes twoopenings 40 disposed near the top thereof for receiving the fingers 17of the bifurcated arms 16 on the yoke member 12. The snap rings 19,hereinbefore alluded to, are adapted to hold the cup member 38 swingablyon the fingers 17.

The ashtray 36 includes an inwardly extending funnel member 42 disposedin the top end thereof having a helical coil 44 disposed around theopening therein. The funnel member 42 is adapted to guide materials suchas cigarette ashes or cigarette butts into the interior of the ashtray38 and to simultaneously provide a lid thereon with an opening ofminimal size to prevent the contents from being blown out of theashtray. The coil spring 44 is provided to serve as a holder for acigarette. Additionally. the ashtray 36 may be provided with awindshield member 45 which is disposed partially about thefunnel member42 for protecting an area within the ashtray 36 from the wind. Thewindshield member 45 includes tabs 47 for holding the windshield member45 on the ashtray 36. The tabs 47 are tightly held beneath the coilspring 44; however. it is noted that the windshield member 45 may berotated around the funnel member 42 to change its position.

The lower portion of the cup member 38 of the ashtray includes anonflammable heat resistant insert 46 made of metal, for example, sothat in the event that live ashes or cigarettes are deposited into theashtray there will be no chance of melting or otherwise damagber 42includes a peripheral flange 48 and 21 depending portion 50 to securelyhold the funnel member 42 on the cup member 38; however, it is notedthat the funnel member 42 may be easily removed from the cup member 38so that the ashtray may be emptied. The cup member 38 is preferably madeof a plastic material which is heat-resistant and fireproof.

Alternatively, the receptacle may take the form of a cup membergenerally indicated at 36 adapted to be used as a beverage container asshown in FIG. 3. To this end the cup member 38' is adapted to receive acylindrical object (not shown) such as a drinking glass, beverage mug orthe like. The cup member 38' is also swingably supported by the fingers17. To prevent the ends of the fingers 17 from interfering with thebeverage container held therein, the cup member 38' includes outwardlyextending raised portions 39 through which the openings for receivingthe fingers 17 extend. The cup member 38' includes longitudinal slots 52communicating with the top end thereof for facilitating the removal ofthe cylindrical object therefrom. These longitudinal slots 52 enable thecylindrical object held within the cup member 38' to be manually graspedand thereby removed. It has been found most advantageous to form thelongitudinal slots 52 as close as possible to positions which arediametrically opposed. This positioning of the slots 52 insure that thecylindrical object held therein can be firmly grasped on a diameter asone would normally grasp a glass or container. The openings 40 forreceiving the fingers 17 are disposed on a diameter to keep the cupmember 38 or 38' substantially upright, therefore, the slots 52 areformed such that their inner edges are as close to the diameter or swingaxis as possible. The cylindrical object may be of any height; noproblem arises if the height is below that of the cup member because thecylindrical object can easily be grasped through the slots 52.Furthermore, if

the cylindrical object includes a handle, the handle merely slips intoone of the slots 52 such that it extends from the cup member 38" and maybe easily grasped.

The cup member 38 also includes a raised platform portion 54 disposed atthe bottom of the cup member 38' to elevate the cylindrical object fromthe bottom thereof. In other words, the cylindrical object such as aglass or beverage container is displaced from the bottom of the cupmember 38' to provide a space below the beverage container. The platformportion 54 comprises a substantially truncated conical portion as shownin FIG. 5. Disposed about the lower perimeter of the conical portion orplatform member 54 are apertures 56 to provide drainage holes for anyfluid which may accumulate in the space at the bottom of the cup member38'. As in the case of the ashtray configuration, the cap member 38' ispreferably made of a nonflammable plastic material.

The aperture 26 in the bracket means 20 includes keyway means comprisinga radial slot 58 or female member extending from the perimeter thereof.The keyway 58 in the aperture 26 and the protrusion 18 on the shaft 14comprise locking means for facilitating the rotation of the shaft 14 inthe aperture 26 while also precluding lateral movement of the shaft 14.The bracket means 20 includes a. journal box 60 disposed in the cavity24 thereof in axially horizontal spaced relationship with respect to theaperture 26. The journal box 60 includes a'bore 62 for rotatablyreceiving the shaft 14. The receptacle comprising the cup shaped member38 or 38' of either configuration, having the yoke member 12 attachedthereto. as described above, is mounted within the bracket means byinserting the shaft 14 in the aperture 26 and rotating the same untilthe protrusion 18 on the shaft 14 aligns with the keyway 58. The cupmember 38 or 38' and the yoke member 12 are then pushed through theaperture 26 so that the shaft 14 enters the bore 62 in the journal box60. Upon releasing the assembly, the cup member 38 or 38 assumes avertical position and the yoke member 12 assumes a horizontal positiondue to natural gravitational forces whereat the protrusion 18 ismisaligned from the keyway 58. In other words, the shaft 14 ispredisposed to rotate within a determined range of angular positionswith respect to the body 22 whereby the key means comprising theprotrusion 18 is misaligned from the keyway means 58 when the shaft iswithin a predetermined range of positions. It is contemplated that thekeyway 58 and the protrusion 18 be so disposed on their respective partsthat a rotation of the shaft 14 of either 45 or 90 from the normalhorizontal position is required to insert the shaft 14 into the aperture26.

The shaft 14 is, therefore, held securely within the bracket member 20such that the yoke member 12 is restricted to rotational motion withrespect to the bracket member 20 and is positively precluded fromlateral movement so that the yoke member 12 is prevented from bouncingout of the bracket means 20. As described above the locking meansincludes a key 18 and keyway 58 connection for selectively maintainingthe shaft 14 rotatably within the aperture 26. The shaft 14 may beremoved by manipulating the yoke member 12 as hereinbefore noted. It isalso contemplated that other locking means may be employed and in someinstances; may be equally .as suitable. For instance the male and femalemembers may comprise a spring loaded ball disposed in the bracket member20 such that it is urged into the aperture 26 and into an annular groovedisposed onthe shaft 14. In other words, the shaft 14 is inserted intothe aperture 26 forcing the ball out of the way until the annular grooveon the shaft 14 becomes aligned therewith. The ball is then urged intothe groove thereby holding the shaft 14 against further inward oroutward axial motion and also against lateral motion but allowing theshaft 14 to rotate. ln some applications it may be desirable to includea substantially face. This would prevent unwanted or unauthorizedremoval of the receptacle from the bracket member 20. Furthermore, thenumber of parts are kept at a minimum and are designed such that theyare easily manufactured and assembled.

The invention has been described in an illustrative manner and it is tobe understood that the terminology which has been used is intended to bein the nature of words of description rather than limitation.

Obviously many modifications and variations in the instant invention arepossible in light of the above teachings. It is, therefore, to beunderstood that the invention may be practiced otherwise than asspecifically described yet remain within the scope of the dependingclaims. 7

The embodiments of the invention in which an exclusive property orprivilege is claimed are defined as follows:

l. A mounted receptacle comprising: a mounting bracket comprising aclosed cylindrical portion terminating in a flange adapted to mount saidmounting bracket, a journal box disposed within said closed cylindricalportion at the end of said closed cylindrical portion terminating insaid flange, a shaft receiving and locking member disposed at the end ofsaid closed cylindrical portion opposite the end of said closedcylindrical portion terminating in said flange, said shaft receiving andlocking member including an aperture having a keyway, a yoke, areceptacle member rotatably carried by said yoke, and a shaft providedwith a mounting tang extending from said yoke, the distal end of saidshaft being rotatably disposed within said journal box, the tang of saidshaft being disposed intermediate said journal box and said aperture,and said tang being adapted to be aligned with the keyway of saidaperture to permit withdrawal of said shaft from said mounting bracket.

2. A mounted receptacle as in claim 1 wherein said journal box is amember inserted within said closed cylindrical portion.

3. A mounted receptacle as in claim 2 wherein said receptacle member isadapted to receive a manually graspable object and wherein saidreceptacle member includes first and second elongated longitudinalslots, of sufficient width to permit manual grasping there: through of amanually graspable object carried in said receptacle member, extendingunobstructed from the top thereof to the bottom thereof whereby themanually graspable object carried in said receptacle member can begrasped to facilitate manual removal of that object from said receptaclemember.

1. A mounted receptacle comprising: a mounting bracket comprising aclosed cylindrical portion terminating in a flange adapted to mount saidmounting bracket, a journal box disposed within said closed cylindricalportion at the end of said closed cylindrical portion terminating insaid flange, a shaft receiving and locking member disposed at the end ofsaid closed cylindrical portion opposite the end of said closedcylindrical portion terminating in said flange, said shaft receiving andlocking member including an aperture having a keyway, a yoke, areceptacle member rotatably carried by said yoke, and a shaft providedwith a mounting tang extending from said yoke, the distal end of saidshaft being rotatably disposed within said journal box, the tang of saidshaft being disposed intermediate said journal box and said aperture,and said tang being adapted to be aligned with the keyway of saidaperture to permit withdrawal of said shaft from said mounting bracket.2. A mounted receptacle as in claim 1 wherein said journal box is amember inserted within said closed cylindrical portion.
 3. A mountedreceptacle as in claim 2 wherein said receptacle member is adapted toreceive a manually graspable object and wherein said receptacle memberincludes first and second elongated longitudinal slots, of sufficientwidth to permit manual grasping therethrough of a manually graspableobject carried in said receptacle member, extending unobstructed fromThe top thereof to the bottom thereof whereby the manually graspableobject carried in said receptacle member can be grasped to facilitatemanual removal of that object from said receptacle member.